A young couple were charred to death when the petrol tank of the motorbike, they were travelling in, exploded after it collided with a goods-laden lorry at Pazhali on the city outskirts, police said Monday.

The accident occurred Sunday night, when 29-year-old Majeeth, riding the bike along with his wife Jijimol (24), tried to over take another vehicle resulting in its head-on collision with the lorry near the Pazhali Metro hospital, they said.

The couple were proceeding to Ramapuram in Malappuram, from Vadakara.

Majeeth was burnt to death as his leg got stuck in the crash bar, while his wife who was flung away in the impact of the collision, also died of burns, a few minutes later, police said.